Charlotte FC finally fielding best talent
Tough home loss Thursday against Austin; Plus it's farewell to Alan Franco, prepping for transfer window, breaking down rookie contributors, clamoring for Kahlina jersey and more
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A solid starting 11 for Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC’s starting 11 Thursday from left to right. In the back row: Swiderski, Kahlina, Walkes, Corujo, Bender and Fuchs, and in the front row: Afful, Bronico, Shinyashiki, Jozwiak and Ortiz.(Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC.)
Five days after fielding its most depleted lineup of the season because of Covid, Charlotte FC fielded arguably its strongest Thursday night against Austin. No illness, no international play, no eyebrow-raising lineup decisions. We might have actually seen the most talented 11 on the field at once, 18 games into the season.
Unfortunately, the loaded lineup didn’t translate into a victory. Charlotte FC lost to Austin FC 1-0, dropping only its third game of the nine it has played at Bank of America Stadium in this inaugural season. But the lineup was perhaps a sign of a little more stability and consistency to come.
Charlotte FC coach Christian Lattanzio sent out a front line that included two of Charlotte’s designated (star) players — Karol Swiderski and Kamil Jozwiak — for only the third time this season. Joining them on the left wing was Andre Shinyashiki, an impact offensive player Charlotte traded for in early May, who has now played together with the two Polish standouts twice.
Swiderski (left) and Jozwiak, together on the field Thursday night. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
Defender and captain Christian Fuchs was back in the starting lineup for just the second time in the past six games. He had missed four in a row with a sore ankle. He moved to left back, allowing Anton Walkes to stay at center back where he has proven a good combination with Guzman Corujo. Those three plus Harrison Afful give Charlotte a veteran look across the back line of defense.
Charlotte is still looking for consistency in the offensive buildup from its midfield, but with the trio of Ben Bender, Titi Ortiz and Brandt Bronico, and Jordy Alcivar and Sergio Ruiz off the bench, the hunt for another attacking midfielder doesn’t have to be urgent.
“I’m very happy with the players that we have,” Lattanzio said after Thursday’s game. “Also the players that came on (via substitution.) I think they contributed. We just simply need to find the right formula. There will be changes because the season is long. But we are getting some kind of structure together, and I think the starting 11 today — I’m quite pleased with the way they play the game.”
Charlotte FC dominated possession Thursday night, controlling the ball 63.5% of the time. It spent much of the second half in Austin’s end of the field. Charlotte also showed some dynamic short passing in the middle of the field, in traffic, from its attacking players but failed to convert those into scoring opportunities. Crosses were off, as was communication at times.
Walkes said after the game Lattanzio was looking for Charlotte to be more “clinical” and “ruthless” in finding scoring chances.
“We need to keep improving, especially in the last third (of the field) … and to complete our game,” Lattanzio said. “Because I think we are not far from seeing a very exciting team.”
Farewell, Franco
It’s peace out to Alan Franco, the Charlotte FC midfielder who left on loan this week. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC.)
Lost in the mix of Charlotte FC’s Covid breakout last week, which left the club short 10 players in Montreal, was the departure of an 11th. Charlotte loaned midfielder Alan Franco to Club Atletico in Argentina for the remainder of the season.
The deal wasn’t finalized until Monday, but Franco did not travel to Montreal for last Saturday’s game. Brian Maurer of TopBin90.com reported that Franco had refused to travel in anticipation of his loan. Lattanzio deflected a question this week about the validity of that report.
Franco had started nine games and come off the bench in one other for Charlotte FC before leaving in June for international play with his native Ecuador. While he was gone, Miguel Angel Ramirez was fired and replaced by Lattanzio. Franco had played for Ramirez at Independiente del Valle, the Ecuadorian team that won a 2019 title in the Copa Sudamericana, which is considered the second most prestigious tournament in South America.
Nobody has come out and said it, but this had the look of a player fitting most comfortably, and being most loyal to, Ramirez. And with him gone, and Franco’s potential for playing time diminished, Franco preferred playing for a team that would give him the best chance to earn a spot on Ecuador’s national team for the upcoming World Cup.
“Alan was very professional, trained well, and I told him that,” Lattanzio said. “But sometimes in football there are different opportunities and some players — not just in this case, but in general — might feel that there is a mutual benefit to change.”
Franco scored a game-tying goal in his debut for Club Atletico this week in a 1-1 game in the Round of 16 in the Copa Libertadores, which is the highest level of competition in South America.
Roster flexibility: Lattanzio pointed out that the team has Alcivar, Ruiz, Ortiz and Bender to man the midfield, and now rookie Quinn McNeill making a case to play too.
“It's not that we are without players in that position,” Lattanzio said. “The scouting department keeps me up to date on certain options that we might have, but … I am happy with the players that I have here for now. So we just carry on as usual.”
In his statement regarding the departure of Franco, sporting director Zoran Krneta thanked Franco and wished him well. Then he pointed out: “This move opens up both a senior roster slot and international roster slot as we approach the summer transfer window beginning on July 7.”
Targets for transfer window
MLS’ second and final transfer window this season from July 7 through Aug. 4. Charlotte FC has more roster flexibility now to pursue a third designated player (a star player who can be paid without regard to the salary cap.) Krneta has been saying since late May he would like to add an attacking midfielder as the team’s third designated player. Though he won’t rush to fill it during this window if the fit isn’t right.
“I wouldn’t like to commit whether it’s going to happen in the summer transfer window, which is our aim, or whether it will happen in January simply because the business of transfers and making these deals are unpredictable to say the least,” Krneta said. “We are looking to add an attacking midfielders as a third DP, but it’s something that we are very careful how we go about.”
The transfer window is the period of time when teams can sign or trade for new players. The MLS season has two, first a 90-day window from early February until early May, and a second 30-day window starting in early July. The second window usually features more European players because their annual contracts expire June 30.
In addition to an attacking midfielder, Charlotte FC is also apparently eyeing a right back to bolster the defense. Niko Moreno, a Seattle-based MLS reporter, says Charlotte is interested in 30-year-old Brazilian fullback Rodinei Marcelo de Almeida.
Here is Maurer’s take on Rodieni for Topbin90.com:
Rodinei is a player that Charlotte FC have had an interest in for quite awhile. According to Brazilian news outlet, Globo, Charlotte made an offer to Flamengo for Rodinei in February of 2021. Over the last couple years he has had limited minutes, but in the 2018/19 season he was a regular contributor for Flamengo as the team became both Brazilian champions and Copa Libertadores Cup winners.
Rodinei would bring trophy winning experience to Charlotte FC, as well as a more direct attacking option down the right side. He would provide further competition for minutes with both Jaylin Lindsey and Harrison Afful.
Young guns: Four rookies to watch
Quinn McNeill was one of three rookies for Charlotte FC to make his MLS debut in Montreal. (Photo courtesy of Charlotte FC.)
Three Charlotte FC rookies made their MLS debuts last weekend after the Covid outbreak (10 of 30 players on the roster were out): George Marks in goal, defender Koa Santos and midfielder Quinn McNeill. Plus midfielder Chris Heghardt returned from meniscus surgery on his knee. There were bright spots from each one.
“We know that we have very good young players here that have potential but are also ready to contribute,” Lattanzio said. “Now, as they showed, they train well, they behave well. They're ready….”
“The first thing I'm looking at is the personality that they carry on the pitch,” he said. “If they belong there, if they play with personality or if they play with fear … I was impressed by the personality that they showed when they came on.”
Here’s the lowdown on each one.
George Marks: Charlotte FC fans have already seen the standout goalkeeper from Clemson during U.S. Open Cup play, but Marks held his own Saturday night at the MLS level. He gave up two goals, but both came on shots where his vision was obstructed, first by his own defender and the second by a Montreal player who could have easily been called offside. Marks also gave a glimpse into his maturity level with his postgame comments.
“One of my main goals was make sure I didn’t let the moment pass me by,” he said. “Don’t be afraid of something I’ve hoped and prayed for and has been a goal for me for so long. I tried to channel every bit of nervous energy and excitement and really enjoy it. (The result was) disappointing, but I’m trying to take some positives just like the team is.”
Koa Santos: Santos was called up from the Charlotte Independence to make the first start of his MLS career in Montreal, but he had to make it out of position. Santos normally plays right back but was inserted at winger because Charlotte FC’s top four wingers were unavailable due to Covid. Santos held his own for 57 minutes, nothing too flashy, nothing too glaring. Santos had been on the bench for three Charlotte FC games this season and played in two U.S. Open Cup matches. He got a start and assisted a goal in Charlotte’s 5-1 win in Richmond.
Quinn McNeill: McNeill might have been the biggest surprise of all the rookie contributors in Montreal, when he came off the bench in the second half and provided good initiative in the attack. Like Marks, he’s a former standout from Clemson, and like Marks, he looks like a player who could be counted on to contribute again.
“He’s an intelligent player,” Lattanzio said. “He understands quickly most situations. He asked a lot of questions and very detailed ones tactically. So you can see that mentally he is ready at this level. And every time I went to see him with the Charlotte Independence he always impressed me with the way he played, the personality, the tempo and also the understanding of what he has to do on the pitch.”
Chris Hegardt: The 20-year-old midfielder drew rave reviews from Ramirez early this season and appeared in each of Charlotte’s first two games before suffering a meniscus tear during practice. The Georgetown product underwent surgery in late March, which required eight weeks for recovery. Hegardt impressed in his comeback Saturday, making several nice passes and taking kicks on set plays.
“It was good to see,” Lattanzio said. “But at the same time, I know Chris. I know how focused he is. I know how much he loves football. I know how hungry is for more. And so that didn’t surprise me. I can see in training that he always wants more. So sometimes, if anything, he has to channel his energy because he's full of it.”
Kahlina ‘kit’ arrives at team store
It only took, what, four months? But the goalkeepers’ jersey is finally here! The “kit” is actually generic to the league, even in its mint color, but fans could have them customized with Kristijan Kahlina’s name.
They were lining up at the team store to get first dibs at Thursday’s game at Bank of America Stadium. Only fans who had a ticket to the game and showed up at the team store after 5 p.m. had a shot at getting the first kits. The allotment sold out, but more are expected to arrive soon.
Fans got a preview in an announcement Wednesday from Shawn McIntosh, Chief Fan Officer for Charlotte FC, the liaison between the players and fans. McIntosh said goalkeeper kits were only available in mint (not the alternate orange goalkeepers can wear) and only in men’s sizes. TBD for when they’ll be available online.
Up Next: Charlotte FC (6-10-2) at Houston Dynamo FC (6-8-3)
When/Where: 8:30 p.m. Sunday, PNC Stadium, Houston
How to watch: WAXN (Channel 64), Telemundo, or live stream at www.charlottefootballclub/live or on the Charlotte FC app. Local restrictions apply.
Notable:
After a loss at Bank of America Thursday, Charlotte can hardly afford to keep its trend going of losing on the road (0-7-2) if it’s going to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot. Charlotte is now 10th in the Eastern Conference standings. Only the top seven teams make the playoffs. Walkes called this make-or-break time.
Midfielder Derrick Jones faces his former team in Houston, which traded him to Charlotte in March.
McKenzie Gaines was unavailable off the bench Thursday due to practice time missed for Covid but is expected back for Sunday.
Carroll Walton is a longtime baseball writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution now cutting her teeth on soccer and the Charlotte FC just as fans in Charlotte do. She would love to hear from you. E-mail her with questions, suggestions, story ideas and comments!
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